RINCON — A familiar business is poised to take advantage of increasing traffic in the city.

The Rincon City Council unanimously approved the final site plan for a Parker’s Kitchen at 107 N. Columbia Ave. during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night. The property, located at a busy intersection with Ninth Avenue, is in a general commercial zone and currently owned by Paul Wendelken, who operates an insurance company there.

The council approved the site plan after working with Parker’s Kitchen officials for a couple weeks to devise a plan to prevent customers from turning left and heading north on Columbia Avenue after leaving the store. 

The store will be slightly smaller than a typical Parker’s location like the one at 6159 Ga. Hwy 21.

“I want to thank y’all again for making the time to meet with us to discuss this since the last city council meeting that we had,” said David Smith, a representative for Kimley Horn, the planning and design form in charge of the project. “It was really helpful to hear your concerns and we went back and looked at the site plans, and we were able to incorporate some of the items that we had expressed were important — the first one being the raised concrete island at the right (turns) in and right (turns) out on (Columbia Avenue).

“... What that really means is there is going to be a six-inch raised concrete median right there just above the crosswalk. It’s typical of what you would see on the side of the road for a curb.”

A few Ninth Street residents opposed the addition of another convenience store in the area, which features a Sunoco store, Dollar General and a railroad track. They cited traffic concerns and worries about the store’s lights shining into their residences at night. Parker’s Kitchen intends to operate around the clock.

The owner of Sunoco across from Wendelken’s property on Ninth Street also objected. Wendelken responded immediately.

He said, “I’d like to be able to tell y’all when a new insurance company comes to town, ‘Don’t let them because it’s not a good place for it. There’s enough already. That’s what we just heard.’ ”

Before the vote, Wendelken said the Parker’s Kitchen proposal had cleared multiple hurdles involving city engineers, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Rincon’s Planning and Zoning Board. He added that most wrecks at the intersection are caused by drivers running the Columbia Avenue-Ninth Street red light.

“I dare say ((the site) is a top-five intersection in Effingham County. I told Parker’s that when I was negotiating with them. It could be top three for all I know,” Wendelken said. “That doesn’t change the fact that a properly zoned business, which this is — general commercial — shouldn’t be denied.”

One audience member questioned if the council cares about attracting and keeping small businesses as much as large ones like Parker’s. The remark drew a strong retort from Councilman Levi Scott.

“We value all businesses whether small or large,” Scott said. “We can’t favor one over the other and we have to respect all their rights —  and their property rights. Our job is make sure things are done right and are safe to a point.”

Scott said the council helped shape the Parker’s Kitchen through numerous discussions.

  The closing on the land purchase is expected soon and construction is likely to begin early next year, Smith said.

— In another action, the council agreed to annex a 66.92-acre parcel located at 0 Ga. Hwy 21. The property near Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County is owned by Jag of Effingham County and will be used for a warehouse development. 

The zoning was changed from agricultural al to light industrial.